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Innovative Waste Management in Rwanda

rwanda waste Rwanda, a country in Central Africa with a population of around 14 million, has emerged as a global leader in sustainable development through its revolutionary waste management initiatives. The Plastic Waste Management Program and the Gikondo Recycling Centre, as well as youth-led eco-entrepreneurship initiatives, address certain environmental issues to create many jobs, mainly for young people. Rwanda is generally encouraging cleaner urban spaces, transforming waste into valuable resources. In addition to its promotion of a circular economy, it is setting an inspiring example for other nations to follow in the pursuit of sustainability and economic growth as well.

Transforming Waste into Opportunity

In 2021, Rwanda, in its work alongside the Private Sector Federation, set up a fund for plastic waste management. This initiative has led to the collection of nearly 1,500 tons of plastic waste from around 24 drop-off points. If that waste was not collected, it would have ended up in the landfills. The programme has, furthermore, created some 1,300 green jobs, showing the potential for environmental initiatives to drive economic growth, as well as employment.

Rwanda’s commitment to addressing plastic pollution extends beyond its borders. In 2024, Rwanda and Peru submitted a proposal at the U.N. talks in Ottawa to reduce global plastic production by 40% by 2040. This ambitious target aims to protect human health and the environment by limiting the production of primary plastic polymers.

Gikondo Recycling Centre

The Gikondo wetland in Kigali, once with heavy pollution by plastic waste, is undergoing transformation into a recreational area like the Nyandungu Eco-tourism Park. The government has actively engaged youth in removing some plastic waste from the wetland. That action turns an environmental challenge into an opportunity for community involvement as well as job creation.

Additionally, the Nduba landfill in Kigali features pilot facilities for municipal waste valorisation, a Waste Sorting and Separation Facility and a Bio-Waste Treatment Facility. These facilities can handle about 100 tons of waste per day in addition to converting organic waste into valuable fertilisers, respectively. The project could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 15,320 tCO₂ annually, and a further 74 new green jobs should be created.

The Youth-Led Eco-Entrepreneurship

Rwanda’s focus on youth empowerment is obvious in programs like the Youth Ecobrigade, implemented in partnership with UNDP and KOICA, together with other stakeholders. This initiative has provided training for 4,900 young people from rural communities. Furthermore, this initiative created 3,520 new jobs. Youth cooperatives that were formed under the program have managed to save nearly 11 million Rwandan francs, which promotes savings and entrepreneurship.
Launched in 2023, the Aguka program aims to support youth-led businesses further. This four-year initiative aims to impact around 6,600 youth-led businesses via the provision of thorough support. Such support includes access to finance, advanced business development training, mentorship, and market linkages. The program should create more than 100,000 jobs, greatly helping Rwanda’s socioeconomic change.

E-Waste Management in Rwanda

Recognizing the growing challenge of electronic waste, the country has partnered with Enviroserve Rwanda Green Park to establish a state-of-the-art e-waste dismantling and recycling facility. This facility has trained up to 70 young Rwandans in the repair, maintenance, and also recycling of electronic equipment. This training program furnished them with valuable skills for the job market.

Furthermore, the initiative has created green jobs for 413 people, with the number expected to rise as the facility and nationwide collection points become fully operational. This approach not only addresses environmental concerns but also provides sustainable employment opportunities for the youth.

A Blueprint for Sustainable Development

These revolutionary waste management initiatives in Rwanda exemplify how environmental sustainability and economic development can go hand in hand. Rwanda is setting a precedent for other nations to emulate by engaging youth as well as transforming waste into resources. This is in addition to encouraging a circular economy. These programs do address the pressing environmental challenges and also create meaningful employment opportunities, especially for young people, paving the way for a more sustainable and prosperous future.

– Zainab Saad Hassan

Zainab is based in Glasgow, Scotland and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Kenyan Inventors Are Turning Waste to Affordable Prosthetics

ProstheticsAround 4.6% of Kenyans live with some form of disability. The causes of these disabilities vary, ranging from accidents to congenital conditions and illness. Additionally, persons living with disabilities face challenges securing employment, with those living in urban areas like Nairobi being more advantaged in accessing employment opportunities. For individuals living with disabilities, stigma and discrimination often pose a greater challenge than the medical conditions they face. These social barriers contribute to high unemployment, poor living conditions, increased dropout rates and rising poverty levels. In Kenya, traditional prosthetics are prohibitively expensive, with above-knee prosthetics costing about $3,000 and below-knee prosthetics priced at around $700. Hence, only 26% of people with disabilities have access to assistive devices, with the private sector providing 24% and government health facilities offering just 3%.

These systemic barriers and inequalities continue to perpetuate poverty, but David Gathu and Moses Kiuna are breaking them down. They prove that restoring dignity to individuals with disabilities and ensuring affordability can go hand in hand. Their low-cost prosthetics, made from e-waste, are a fraction of the price of commercial alternatives. Through their AI project, they go even further, addressing not only the physical needs of persons with disabilities but also the social isolation they often face.

David Gathu and Moses Kiuna

Gathu and Kiuna, the brilliant minds behind an AI-powered prosthetic designed to empower individuals with disabilities, may seem like seasoned engineers. However, the two Kenyan inventors are self-taught high school dropouts driven by an unwavering passion for innovation. Their journey began in primary school when Gathu, inspired by a friend who was an amputee, sought a way to restore his ability to use his hand. Witnessing his struggles with everyday tasks like eating and writing, Gathu researched harnessing neural signals to create a functional solution. Working from their grandmother’s granary, the duo set out on a mission: to uplift people with disabilities by fostering independence through technology.

What started as childhood curiosity turned into groundbreaking innovation. Using salvaged electronic components, they developed a bionic hand that translates brain signals into movement, allowing users to grasp objects effortlessly. “Just like a microphone; it listens to the brain signals or waves that are coming out of the skull because every time you are thinking or talking there is that activity that happens in the neurons. These neurons release electrical pulses which are electoral magnetic. This gadget listens to these magnetic waves and converts them into electrical and then this electrical is converted into digital signals. These digital signals are transmitted away, so this gadget itself amplifies these digital signals and transmits them into the robotic arm,” David explained to BBC’s Newsday.

After spending countless hours and years, their efforts finally paid off, as their prototype now operates flawlessly. With just a simple thought, the device springs to life effortlessly, requiring no physical input from the user.

The Poverty-Disability Cycle

Gathu and Kiuna’s work is important because their low-cost, e-waste prosthetics provide hope for persons with disabilities in Kenya, who are more likely to experience poverty. This bidirectional relationship is especially prominent in low- and middle-income countries, where poverty often leads to unsafe living conditions and poor quality of life, heightening the risk of disabilities. The exclusions faced by individuals with disabilities often trap families in economic hardship. Women and children with disabilities encounter even greater challenges, as cultural stigma and gender inequality often deny them opportunities for empowerment. The lack of affordable assistive devices further amplifies these barriers, leaving many amputees without the mobility they need to fully engage in daily life.

Therefore, the development of AI-powered prosthetics by Gathu and Kiuna, if fully implemented, can make assistive devices affordable and accessible to low-income individuals with disabilities in Kenya. By providing affordable prosthetics, these innovations can empower individuals to participate in the workforce, engage in daily activities and regain their independence. This increased mobility and autonomy can help break the cycle of poverty, improving economic stability for families and communities and ultimately contributing to greater social inclusion and empowerment for people with disabilities.

Support and Market Access

While their work has gained both local and international media attention, gaining coverage on the BBC and other global media outlets, they have yet to receive significant institutional or financial backing to scale their innovations. Recognition has come, but resources to transition to mass production have hindered their progress.

Nonetheless, their journey exemplifies more than innovation. What originated in their grandmother’s granary could spark a movement transforming every discarded circuit board into a symbol of hope and each prototype into a stride toward a more equitable society. It highlights the remarkable impact of grassroots creativity in changing lives. With increased backing, these two self-taught innovators have the potential to change numerous lives for the better, with affordable prosthetics.

– Grace Ruria

Grace is based in Nairobi, Kenya and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Brazil’s Waste-to-Energy Conversion Systems

Brazil's waste-to-energy conversionBrazil is making significant strides in waste-to-energy technology, which turns waste into energy and addresses both urban waste management and renewable energy demands. Cities like São Paulo, Curitiba and Rio de Janeiro are leading the way, implementing projects that transform organic waste, sewage, and landfill gases into biogas and ultimately electricity. These waste-to-energy systems help keep cities clean and provide renewable power, reinforcing Brazil’s commitment to sustainability and urban development.

Urban Waste as an Energy Source

With rapid urbanization and increased consumption, Brazil faces mounting waste disposal challenges. The nation produces approximately 79 million tons of waste annually and managing this output has long been a complex issue. While traditional landfills have been the mainstay for waste disposal, they come with environmental costs, such as methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. Recognizing this, Brazil has started investing in waste-to-energy projects, using organic waste and other municipal refuse to generate clean, renewable energy.

These waste-to-energy projects follow a relatively simple process. Organic waste, which includes everything from food scraps to sewage sludge, undergoes anaerobic digestion—a process where microorganisms break down waste in an oxygen-free environment, according to Global Recycling. This decomposition releases biogas, a combination of methane and carbon dioxide, which can be converted into electricity. By transforming waste into energy, Brazil not only diverts a substantial amount of refuse from landfills but also reduces its carbon footprint.

Landmark Projects Leading the Way

In São Paulo, one of Brazil’s largest and most densely populated cities, a pioneering waste-to-energy plant exemplifies the potential of the Brazil waste-to-energy conversion system. This facility transforms various organic waste types, such as food scraps and biodegradable materials, into biogas, Global Recycling reports. This biogas is then distributed locally, helping reduce waste and reliance on fossil fuels. São Paulo’s waste-to-energy project underscores the city’s commitment to environmental sustainability and urban resilience, offering a model for other cities to follow.

Curitiba, known for its eco-friendly efforts, has launched a large-scale composting project that further enhances Brazil’s waste-to-energy conversion strategies. This project primarily turns organic waste into compost for agriculture and green spaces, yet it also captures methane for modest energy production, showcasing that diverse approaches can strengthen Brazil’s waste-to-energy conversion efforts.

Meanwhile, Rio de Janeiro is making headway with biogas initiatives aimed at capturing landfill gases. The city’s main landfill, the Seropédica Landfill, is one of Latin America’s largest and includes a biogas recovery system that extracts methane emissions and converts them into energy. Rio’s biogas initiatives provide enough electricity to power thousands of households, highlighting waste-to-energy’s potential to meet urban energy needs sustainably.

Economic and Environmental Impact

These projects represent more than just waste disposal solutions—they contribute to economic growth and energy security. By tapping into waste-to-energy technologies, Brazil can reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels, foster local employment in green technology, and promote innovation in renewable energy. The environmental benefits are equally substantial, as waste-to-energy systems drastically reduce methane emissions from organic waste, a critical factor in the fight against climate change.

Moreover, the success of Brazil’s waste-to-energy conversion initiatives could encourage other Latin American countries to explore similar strategies. Brazil has become a regional leader in green energy solutions, showing that waste-to-energy systems can be both economically viable and environmentally beneficial. This leadership extends beyond borders as Brazil collaborates with international organizations to improve its waste-to-energy capabilities, drawing on global expertise to optimize local projects.

A Sustainable Future for Brazil

Brazil’s commitment to waste-to-energy conversion solutions showcases the country’s forward-thinking approach to sustainability. By converting waste into energy, Brazilian cities are cleaning up their streets, reducing emissions, and powering communities—all while supporting a circular economy. As these projects expand, Brazil is not only addressing today’s waste and energy challenges but also paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future.

– Laila Alaya

Laila is based in Abuja, Nigeria and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Boateng’s Plastic Bricks Offer Affordable Housing for Ghana

Affordable Housing for GhanaIn 2015, in Accra, the capital of Ghana, a devastating fire exacerbated by plastic pollution ended up killing 250 people. While this was a horrible accident, Nelson Boateng, the Chief Executive Officer of Nelplast, a big plastic-producing company in Ghana, took accountability and decided to start creating an impactful solution from this loss. He became inspired to invent and invest in bricks made out of shredded plastic and sand to mitigate the issues of plastic arising in Ghana.

This invention also helped save his company, as the Ghanaian government was considering a ban on single-use plastics due to health and safety hazards associated with plastic pollution. Boateng told “Africa Calling” podcast correspondent Zubaida Mabuno Ismail, “I had to find a way of dealing with the plastic in a more sustainable way.”

Waste Management in Ghana

A major factor driving plastic repurposing efforts in Ghana is the country’s significant plastic pollution problem. The National Library of Medicine reports a link between public health issues in Ghana and inconsistent waste management practices, a concern shared by many Ghanaians. Indeed, Gbeddy Phanuel’s online survey on household waste management practices in Accra found that 83% of respondents consider quality service to be the top priority. Many feel that current waste management practices are unpredictable and lack professionalism.

As a developing country, Ghana has yet to establish fully functional waste management sites, making it challenging for residents to dispose of waste properly. In fact, 62% of Ghana’s waste reaches landfills. Furthermore, the remaining 38% is disposed of through unregulated methods, including 14.5% in waterways and 16.5% in gutters. This poses health risks for Ghanaians as inadequate waste management solutions compromise water sources.

Fortunately, Gbeddy’s survey of more than 200 Ghanaians revealed that 81% are willing to participate in waste management initiatives. Plastic waste ranks third highest in Africa and due to its long lifespan, finding sustainable ways to reduce its usage is crucial for the health and safety of people in Ghana.

Beautiful Plastic Homes for a Low Price

In an interview with Voice of America, Boateng offers an inside look at the plastic brick manufacturing process and its final results. He showcases his home, which is built entirely from Nelplast bricks made of recycled plastic. Constructing a one-bedroom apartment with these bricks costs around $11,000, making it an affordable housing option for low-income families in Ghana.

Each home uses about 13,400 kilograms (approximately 29,542 pounds) of plastic. Boateng and his company developed these bricks by heating and compressing a blend of plastic and sand, creating durable materials that leverage plastic’s resilience against decay—a promising solution to Ghana’s housing shortage.

Boateng introduces an innovative solution for both the housing shortage and plastic waste problem, providing a hopeful path forward for affordable housing in Ghana.

– Madeline Star Heintz

Madeline is based in Los Angeles, CA, USA and focuses on Business and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Improving Waste Management in Southeast Asia

Waste Management in Southeast AsiaThe growth of Southeast Asia in recent decades has been startling. This growth has improved the economies and living conditions in the region and has contributed to reduced poverty rates. However, the rapid expansion of industry and population size has resulted in huge waste production. Six of the top 10 countries with the highest polluting levels are in Southeast Asia. The countries have inadequate waste management systems and are not capable of handling large quantities of waste.

Waste Management in Southeast Asia

Currently, landfills are used, which are not sustainable due to the increasing amount of land mass needed daily. The region is the fastest-growing waste generator among the East Asian and Pacific regions. It has produced approximately a fifth of all waste produced globally. Southeast Asia is projected to produce an additional 300 million tonnes by 2030. The region is the main global center for waste imports after China banned unclean waste imports, adding to the overall tonnage of waste. By 2050, plastic waste is projected to be one-tenth of all waste produced, reaching 12,000 million tonnes.

The United Nations Environmental Assembly has identified pollution as the third great environmental crisis of our time. It stresses the need for improved waste management in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). For ASEAN, investing in sustainable processes is a must if it is to continue growing and improving the livelihoods of its population. The sustainability industry is an area of huge interest to investors as it is in its early stages of development.

The Problem with Waste

Poor waste management causes a multitude of problems, including health risks, pollution, resource depletion, economic losses and environmental degradation. Harmful diseases are spread in areas of inadequate waste management, threatening public health. Economic losses occur as resources are used inefficiently to handle the waste. Subsequently, governments have to act reactively to mitigate the consequences. These consequences of ineffective waste management disproportionately impact people experiencing poverty, who live in the most polluted areas and who feel the effects of poor health and environmental degradation the most.

Finding Solutions with Technology

There is a need for ASEAN to implement more effective waste management strategies to address the consequences laid out above and to promote sustainable development. Innovation and technology are being used to tackle the waste management problem in ASEAN. The gap in the market has drawn sustainable start-ups and investors to the region. Here are three companies that are using technology to improve waste management in ASEAN:

Rezbin

Based in Iloilo in the Philippines, Rezbin won the 2024 ASEAN start-up award. It targets the habit of recycling, providing bins at certain locations where plastic can be donated. Rezbin uses technology to track plastic donations and reward individuals who do. Rezbin’s CEO has stated that it is researching other tech solutions for the waste disposable industry. They hope to move into different areas of the waste value chain in the future.

Octopus

Octopus is a circular economy start-up based in Indonesia. It is a reverse logistics platform that producers can use to track and collect used waste to prevent it from ending up in landfills. The company ensures waste can be collected efficiently, providing incentives for manufacturers to collect and recycle their waste. Octopus hires people who have previously tried to make a living picking plastics for recycling and provides them with a monthly salary. Octopus benefits the ecosystem and individual livelihoods simultaneously.

Magorium

Based in Singapore, Magorium uses technology to convert plastic waste into a material called NEWBitumen, which can be used to build and pave roads. This material can be made from all types of plastic, clean or unclean, reducing the masses of unclean plastic ending up in landfills and cutting out the need to clean all plastics. Magorium provides businesses with the ability to get rid of plastics sustainably without them ending up in landfills, incinerators or the ocean.

The Future

Investment in improving waste management in ASEAN can lead to better outcomes for the region’s economies. The cost of uncollected waste is approximately five times higher than it would be to implement a sustainable waste management system. Start-ups using sustainable technology can help economies implement sustainable waste management systems and create a competitive market focused on sustainable development and waste reduction.

Revenue made from more efficient systems can be reinvested in the local economy and into initiatives tackling poverty. Overall, improving ASEAN’s ability to tackle its waste issue can benefit the poorest of society, who suffer most from the consequences of poor waste management.

– Lauren Alkhalil

Lauren is based in London, UK and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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CIRCLE Alliance: Increasing Circular Plastic Economies

CIRCLE AllianceJune 6, 2024, marked the launch of the new CIRCLE Alliance collaboration. The public company Unilever, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the private organization Ernst and Young (EY) have all partnered to create the CIRCLE Alliance. These organizations are working with entrepreneurs and small businesses that are already established in the plastic waste sector.

They aim to find solutions to scale the work already being done through their $21 million investment. Through this and by focusing on increasing circular plastics economies, CIRCLE will work to reduce the use and waste of plastic products. CIRCLE’s initial plan is to launch projects in four key countries: India, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Within these countries, CIRCLE will focus efforts on those who already perform most of the collection and disposal of waste – women.

Plastic in CIRCLE’s Key Countries

  • India produces the most plastic waste in the world, behind the United States (U.S.) and the European Union (EU), with 26,000 tons generated daily. It is also the leader in polymer production, the substance used to create plastic.
  • Indonesia generates just more than 21,000 tons of plastic waste daily. Most of the waste comes from rural locations without proper waste management systems. Most of the waste ends up in waterways, floating down rivers. Only 17% of the waste that makes it into rivers either washes up or is removed.
  • Vietnam’s recent economic growth contributes to the plastic waste problem. The nation produces almost 8,500 tons of plastic waste daily and if it continues on its current path, this amount is projected to double by 2030.
  • The Philippines produces just less than 8,000 tons of plastic waste daily and the country’s coastlines are suffering. Much of the country’s economy is based on coastal work—fishing, tourism and shipping. With 20% of all plastic waste finding its way to the ocean, these industries are being impacted. 

What Are Circular Plastic Economies?

In circular plastic economies, plastic waste is reduced by finding solutions to recycle and reuse plastic products that are currently being thrown away. Plastic, a material used globally, is estimated to double in production in the next 20 years. We are creating and producing new plastics daily and therein lies the problem. The world currently creates more plastic than is recycled for reuse. Currently, 84% of all plastic created is disposed of in landfills, fires or the ocean.

Globally, plastics are mostly operating in a “linear take-make-waste model,” a term coined by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a leader in circular economy creation and research. With the introduction of circular plastic economies, the economic value of production is recouped. Additionally, the material does not find its way into the environment.

CIRCLE Alliance’s Investment in Entrepreneurs

CIRCLE Alliance has already shown its dedication to the cause and displayed how circular plastic economies promote poverty reduction. In the Philippines, for example, lives Riza Santoyo. Her inspiring story starts with a self-funded waste-collecting business in her small town. She used the resources available to her to collect waste, making about $2 a day. CIRCLE Alliance’s investment in equipment for Santoyo allowed her to increase not only her efficiency and productivity in waste collection but also her income. The efforts that the CIRCLE Alliance is making in these key countries are at the intersection of sustainability and poverty reduction.

Expand Producer Responsibility

Another initiative to increase circular plastic economies is to expand producers’ and companies’ responsibility for the aftermath of their products. To combat the myth that single-use plastic is the most cost-effective method, USAID, EY and Unilever are working to promote systems of use called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR Systems). These systems flip the responsibility of waste removal from the consumer to the producer. It forces the producer to evaluate the true cost of their single-use product. This has encouraged companies to make their plastic recyclable and to think of solutions outside of plastic for their products.

– Carlee Unger

Carlee is based in Pembroke, NC, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Circular Economy Innovations and Poverty in Ethiopia

Poverty in EthiopiaEthiopia is a country with a cultural heritage and natural wealth. Yet, it faces high rates of poverty and environmental challenges. Even in this adversarial backdrop, innovative approaches toward a circular economy are emerging as one of the transformative solutions. These efforts shed light on how zero-waste initiatives, resource recovery programs and upcycling enterprises are not only mitigating environmental degradation but also creating economic opportunities and combating poverty in Ethiopia.

Poverty in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is among many African countries that face pervasive poverty. According to estimates by the World Bank, more than 20% of Ethiopia’s population lives below the poverty line and has little access to clean water, education and health facilities. Furthermore, rapid population growth and climatic changes raise the difficulty of the already existing challenges, making sustainable development a matter of high priority.

The principles of circular economies stress the use of resources in ways that are more regenerative, wasting little and reaping full value. It is within this argument that the circular economy opens a promising pathway for poverty alleviation in Ethiopia by inspiring economic growth while at the same time protecting the environment.

Zero-Waste Initiatives

Zero-waste initiatives aim to eliminate waste through redesigning production, reusing and promoting responsible consumption. In Ethiopia, organizations like the Zero Waste Ethiopia project pioneered such waste management strategies, with the core of reuse and recycling. By diverting waste away from landfills and incinerators, these initiatives effectively reduce environmental pollution while creating employment opportunities in the waste collection and recycling sectors.

An example of this progress is the Addis Ababa Waste-to-Energy Facility, which commenced operations in 2018. This facility converts municipal solid waste into electricity, offering a sustainable energy source to the capital while reducing methane emissions at landfill sites. In addition, community-based initiatives like the “Clean and Green Ethiopia” campaign encourage citizen participation in waste segregation and recycling, promoting environmental stewardship and community empowerment.

Resource Recovery Programs

Resource recovery programs tap into innovative technologies that release value from waste materials. Such initiatives in Ethiopia include producing biogas from organic waste and wastewater treatment plants, reducing environmental pollution and producing renewable energy and organic fertilizers. These programs empower locals by providing them with access to clean energy sources and enhanced agricultural productivity for poverty reduction.

With the support of international organizations, the Ethiopian Biogas Program began in 2009 and has since installed more than 42,000 biogas digesters in rural households, substituting traditional sources of biomass fuels and hence improving indoor air quality. The same applies to the wastewater treatment plant of the Hawassa Industrial Park, which recycles and treats industrial effluent to prevent water pollution of Lake Hawassa, sustaining the industrial development of the region in an environmentally friendly way.

Upcycled Ventures

Upcycled ventures give otherwise discarded material a high-value new life, creating a circular economy where waste represents a valuable resource. In Ethiopia, social enterprises like Sabahar and SoleRebels typify transformational potential through upcycling. Sabahar produces exquisite textiles from recycled materials, which gives artisans sustainable livelihoods while preserving traditional weaving techniques. Similarly, SoleRebels transforms old tires into fashionable footwear, offering opportunities for employment among marginalized groups while reducing waste in landfills.

These businesses not only help reduce poverty but also promote social inclusion and cultural conservation. These enterprises combine traditional craftsmanship with innovation in design, projecting cultural heritage to the world while generating income for their local communities.

Final Remark on Poverty in Ethiopia

The impacts of circular economy innovations extend into environmental sustainability dimensions, such as social and economic benefits, by creating new markets for recycled materials, employment opportunities and efficiency in resource use that contribute to poverty reduction and inclusive economic growth. However, such scaling up would involve a collaborative partnership among government, private sector and civil society stakeholders, coupled with investment in research, infrastructure and capacity building.

For a country like Ethiopia, which faces huge challenges regarding poverty and environmental issues, embracing circular economy innovations could show the way toward sustainable and inclusive development. The potential of zero-waste initiatives, resource recovery programs and upcycling enterprises can secure resilience in communities, protect natural resources and uplift the most vulnerable populations in Ethiopia. 

– Honorine Lanka Perera

Honorine is based in Highland, NY, USA and focuses on Business and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

Transforming Waste in India Into Sustainable Jobs

Waste in IndiaSalma, a home-based waste sorter in the Bengaluru neighborhood of Nayandahalli (India), finds dignity in her profession. “I do it with pride when I pick or sort waste,” she says to an independent researcher, Pinky Chandran. This pride stems from recognizing the value within what society deems as waste. With expertise spanning years, Salma can categorize waste into at least 75 distinct types, showcasing the skill inherent in her profession.

The Importance of Waste-Pickers

People like Salma are the backbone of recycling initiatives in many developing nations, collectively known as the informal recycling sector. These waste pickers and recyclers contribute significantly, representing 1-2% of Asia’s and Latin America’s urban populations. Roughly 20% of the waste produced in India is recycled by an estimated 1.5 to 4 million waste pickers, mostly Adivasis and Dalits. Adivasis are indigenous or tribal peoples of India with distinct cultures and traditions. Dalits are marginalized groups traditionally regarded as “untouchables” within the Indian caste system, facing discrimination and social exclusion.

Despite their indispensable role, waste-pickers endure discrimination, health hazards and economic insecurity. Exposure to hazardous materials daily causes them to face various health risks without health care schemes. Privatizing waste collection further exacerbated their plight, leading to many job losses and income instability. Yet, amid these challenges lies an economic opportunity. The waste management market in India is forecasted to reach $13.62 billion by 2025, with a promising growth rate of 7.17%, which means transforming waste into sustainable jobs has enormous upsides.

Under the prevailing system in India, waste pickers face limited prospects for advancement. However, one social enterprise, “Ashaya,” aims to overturn this reality by prioritizing human development.

Unlocking the Human and Economic Potential of Waste Management

Ashaya’s “Without” project aims to transform trash into long-term jobs. This results from founder Anish Malpani’s commitment to finding sustainable solutions for social, economic and environmental problems. Ashaya has grand hopes rooted in humble beginnings. The enterprise’s mission is to increase the value of “waste.” It is considered a resource by those in the waste-picking business and redistributes that value to stakeholders in the supply chain. By concentrating on the frequently disregarded and neglected waste-pickers and utilizing their potential in conjunction with internal technical advancements, they want to build from the bottom up.

Furthermore, Ashaya’s passion is to bring transformative change. They focus on post-consumer metaled Multi-layered plastic packaging (MLP), such as flexible plastic like candy bar wrappers or chip bags. That is how they created the world’s first pair of sunglasses entirely out of “impossible” to recycle MLP. Ashaya transforms MLP waste into high-quality materials by directly sourcing waste from pickers. For this transformation, they offer a premium incentive for MLP and integrate informal workers into the supply chain.

Most of Ashaya’s employees are former waste-pickers. Waste pickers experience stability and dignity through formal agreements and increased wages. Their incomes rise from 1.2x to 3x compared to the informal sector. Moreover, partnerships with cooperatives ensure that 10% of sales support the education of waste-pickers children, fostering long-term community development.

The Way Forward

As for the future, Ashaya expects sub-district-level decentralized “Material Cradles” to act as long-term recycling hubs. These hubs, supported by centralized research facilities, will drive technological advancements to enhance waste value. Through its “Cradle” programs, Ashaya seeks to offer an alternative to profit-driven enterprises, prioritizing social impact and environmental sustainability as the cornerstones of its vision.

As Ashaya continues its journey, the promise of sustainable livelihoods for waste-pickers heralds a transformative era in India’s waste management landscape by transforming waste into sustainable jobs.

– Spencer Springob
Photo: Flickr

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Laos’ Commitment to Waste Management

Waste Management
Laos, known as the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, is one of the most impoverished countries in Southeast Asia. However, over the last 20 years, its economy has been one of the fastest-growing in the region, resulting in an increase in the amount of waste generated. Waste management systems struggle to keep up with this increased waste. Waste management in Laos is “limited to urban centers” and tends to be poorly managed with just 40%-60% of waste collected. Pollution affects the Lao people negatively, resulting in around 10,000 deaths per year, according to a 2021 study by the World Bank. With waste management emerging as a dire issue, the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) are offering support to address the issue.

The Larger Part of the Issue

Around four million tonnes of plastic waste discharges into the world’s seas annually, mostly originating from rivers in Asia such as the Mekong, which goes through Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. About 70 million people rely on this river for food and resources, especially in Laos, though it is “one of the dirtiest in the world.” The Laotian lifestyle is transitioning from a “traditional and subsistence-based lifestyle” to a more urban lifestyle that focuses more on consumerism and imported goods.

The lack of waste dump sites and formal infrastructure significantly and directly impacts the health of citizens, especially when resorting to disposal practices such as burning, burying trash and discarding waste in rivers. Testing of the water sources across more than 3,000 households in Laos shows that  E.Coli in drinking water contaminated 86% of the household population. Furthermore, even for homes using bottled water, a staggering 85% of individuals had E. Coli in their bottled water.

Making the Effort

Laos citizens view plastics as a luxury item, portraying a sign of economic progression. However, this mindset also contributes to plastics becoming the second-largest type of waste, accounting for up to 24% of total waste generated by Laos. But, even as plastic and other wastes are prevalent, cities such as Luang Prabang are making an effort to keep the area’s streets clean. With the locals taking action to actively keep the city clean, these city-dwellers set the example for other city-dwellers in Laos. Responsibility is on communities and households, especially as Laos has a small budget for addressing the waste management issue.

A World Bank 2022 Get CLEAN and GREEN – Solid waste and Plastic Management in Lao PDR report recommends strategies to resolve the waste management issue. One strategy is to move from a linear to a “circular economy.” This would reduce waste by “reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products.”

The UNDP’s Work

The UNDP gathered a focus group of around 30 university students from diverse economic backgrounds, finding that close to 90% of students realize how poor waste management impacts the planet. The organization gave students suggestions for taking action, such as establishing task forces in communities and using social media to share information on helping as green advocates.

The UNDP also found that students who learned to separate waste in schools were eager to follow waste separation procedures. An online UNDP survey shows that social media would influence the mindsets and behaviors of more than 80% of respondents. The UNDP considers the immediate banning of plastic as critical.

The GGGI is aiding in solid waste management in the capital city of Vientiane, formulating a 10-year Strategy and Action Plan. It also has created four project activities:

  • Decentralized garbage collection services
  • A Waste Bank and the designation of the role of waste pickers
  • Organic waste segregation systems and private composting companies
  • Glass recycling involving 10 elementary schools to maximize waste disposal

Looking Ahead

While the Lao PDR transitions to a more urban economy and struggles with waste, organizations have offered solutions to support a more sanitary Laos, which will benefit the health and well-being of people. As education reaches citizens and offers them pathways out of poverty, Laos can create a safer, cleaner and more prosperous country for its populace. And if the country does lean more toward a “circular economy,” Laos could be on its way to reaching a net carbon neutral status by 2040.

– Jerrett Phinney
Photo: Flickr

How Improper Waste Management in Vietnam Impacts Poverty

How Improper Waste Management in Vietnam Impacts PovertyOne of the top contributors of plastic pollution in Southeast Asia, Vietnam is among the several nations struggling to properly manage and dispose of waste. This problem has unfortunately affected the lives of many of Vietnam’s impoverished who work as garbage collectors. Researchers are now conducting studies to understand the potential hazards and consequences associated with improper waste management, providing insight into how improper waste management in Vietnam impacts poverty.

The Waste Problem in Vietnam

Vietnam currently generates about 13 million tons of waste every year. In the past, the country has broken records by producing 38,000 tons of waste “in a single day.” Vietnam’s administration now finds that waste production increases by 10-16% annually and that the nation mismanages about 85% of its garbage. This is problematic because as waste builds up over time, it negatively affects environmental conditions and contributes to pollution. Today, garbage is still piling up in Vietnam’s poorly constructed landfills and the technology incorporated to treat waste in these areas fails to meet basic sanitary requirements.

Vietnam’s Waste Collectors

Waste collecting is an occupation generally held by Vietnam’s lower class, a job that many see as undesirable. In Vietnam, many people have a very negative outlook on the idea of managing garbage for a living because of how unrewarding the endeavor is and how little it pays. As a result, those who find themselves working as waste collectors face significant prejudice and social stigmatization from their communities. While waste collectors often endure discrimination in their communities, they also have to live with harmful side effects that stem from living and working in poor and unsanitary conditions.

Health Effects

In order to determine the effects of waste management in Vietnam, researchers conducted a study by interviewing waste collectors from several cities and provinces, such as Hanoi, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh and more.  Participants were of various ages, with some as young as 30 and others as old as 65. The results showed that respondents suffered from musculoskeletal disorders and commonly felt side effects such as aches and fatigue. Some participants lived with gastrointestinal illnesses and had diseases such as dermatitis. Other symptoms include tension, insomnia and depression.

The effect of waste management on health is alarming because the most disproportionately affected people, the waste collectors, usually come from low-income backgrounds. This is significant because many waste collectors cannot afford healthcare and go about their days aware of this fact, exposing themselves to hazardous materials for the sake of a meager income. Waste collectors endure such work as their most significant priority remains financially supporting their families, no matter the risks. These circumstances illustrate how improper waste management in Vietnam impacts poverty.

The Role of Other Countries

As it turns out, nations such as the United States are partially to blame for the waste management crisis in Vietnam. This is because the U.S. and other well-developed countries engage in trade by exporting waste to less-developed nations. Notable recipients of these types of exports include nations in Southeast Asia, like Bangladesh, Thailand and Vietnam.

Though Vietnam receives a large amount of waste from the U.S., it did not import as much plastic before 2018. In previous years, states would send most of their waste to China and Hong Kong, which were the two largest recipients of these exports at the time. In December 2017, however, China implemented a plastic ban, meaning that the U.S. could not send as much waste as it previously did. As a result, the United States started reallocating the garbage that would have gone to China by sending it across multiple smaller countries.

Before China’s ban, Vietnam received nearly 49,000 tons of waste from the U.S. between January and June 2017. Between January and June 2018, Vietnam imported more than 71,000 tons of garbage, a near 50% increase from the previous year.

What Can be Done?

As much of the waste that Vietnam generates is plastic, many believe the country’s best option would be to find ways to reuse and recycle disposed materials. One example of this would be to turn plastic into products such as aerosols, which can have several applications in different industries. Vietnam can also learn from countries such as the United States by setting up material recovery facilities where people drop off recyclable items. Workers can then palletize these materials and deliver them to other recycling centers that turn plastic into smaller pellets, which there is a large market for.

Alternatives for Vietnam are to potentially consider new materials that could replace plastic. Many enterprises now produce biodegradable plastic and could help Vietnam by providing an eco-friendly solution. That way, the country could see a reduction in waste generation over the next few years. Similarly, Vietnam could also offer incentives for businesses to produce or switch to using biodegradable materials.

Although many of these solutions can positively impact Vietnam’s people, starting them up can be expensive. For this reason, Vietnam’s government is opening the country up to different industries with the hope of establishing business relations with other nations. If Vietnam successfully implements new policies and alternative solutions, the government can dramatically improve the lives of many of its people.

– Eshaan Gandhi
Photo: Unsplash